Ten ways to prevent child abuse

February 03, 2010|Column by Mary Hickman, Charlevoix County Probate Court

I have been a board member for the Child Abuse Council of Charlevoix and Emmet Counties throughout the past 12 years. Our mission is the prevention of child abuse and neglect through community awareness and education.

When discussing the council and all that we do for our community, I am often asked, “What can I do to prevent child abuse? I am just one person.” Well, there is a lot you can do! Ten ways you can help:

Lead by example and be a nurturing parent. Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams.

Lend a hand to help a friend, neighbor, or relative. Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand to take care of the children so the parent(s) can rest. When you are at a local store and a child is crying, offer support to the parent by suggesting that parenting is tough, but soon this child will be grown and shopping will be less stressful.

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Learn to help yourself. When the big and little problems of everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control, take time out. Go to your room; take a shower or a walk. Don’t take it out on your kids.

Educate yourself on how to stop a baby from crying. It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry. Never shake a baby because shaking may result in injury or death.

Information for this article was gathered from the Web site: www. preventchildabuse.org. Prevent Child Abuse America builds awareness, promotes education, and hopes to inspire us to do all we can to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children.

Today’s “Take Time Out” column was submitted by Mary Hickman, Charlevoix County Probate Court. The “Take Time Out” column appears on the fifth Friday or fifth Monday of each month. The next column will be published on Monday, March 29. Send questions, comments, or article suggestions to: Child Abuse Council, P.O. Box 414, Petoskey, Mich. 49770; or call Elaine Roach, executive director, at 347-4658 or e-mail char-emCANcouncil@msn.com. The Child Abuse Council is a Children’s Trust Fund designated council.